WikiLeaks cables, day 18: summary of the key points

There are no fewer than 251,287 cables from more than 250 US embassies around the world, obtained by WikiLeaks. We present a day-by-day guide to the revelations from the US embassy cables both from the Guardian and its international media partners in the story

Playboy Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand is considered an unfit heir to the throne by senior members of the Thai privy council.

El País

US diplomats in Madrid questioned the effectiveness of the Spanish government's economic measures. Cables dated October 2009 and signed by Hillary Clinton asked the US embassy for information about the recession in Spain and the credibility of PM Zapatero and his Socialist cabinet. They also queried the real reason for Zapatero's optimistic views about the Spanish economy, wondering it was part of his efforts to ease market tensions or rather because he didn't understand the seriousness of the situation.

Prisoners including children are routinely tortured in massively overcrowded prisons. Conditions are appalling, with prisoners unable to lie down or sit and deprived of water until they are unable to speak.

A politician secretly asked for Americans' help but the US ambassador responded that change must come from within.